The Boston Bruins removed the interim tag from Bruce Cassidy’s title on Wednesday, announcing he will be back as head coach next season.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney officially named Cassidy as the 28th head coach in franchise history.
The Bruins went 18-8-1 under Cassidy, who replaced the fired Claude Julien on Feb. 7, and finished third in the Atlantic Division.
Boston qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2013-14. The Bruins were eliminated on Sunday, losing to the Ottawa Senators in six games in the Eastern Conference first-round series.
Since Cassidy assumed head coaching responsibilities on Feb. 9, the Bruins ranked first in the NHL in goals per game (3.37), first in the NHL in fewest shots allowed (741), tied for second in the NHL in wins (18), tied for second in the NHL in power-play percentage (27.8), tied for third in the NHL in goals allowed per game (2.30), tied for fifth in the NHL in faceoff percentage (53.6) and tied for sixth in the NHL in takeaways (229).
Before joining Boston as an assistant prior to the start of the 2016-17 campaign, Cassidy spent five seasons (2011-16) as head coach of the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League. He spent the three previous seasons (2008-11) with the club as an assistant.
The 51-year-old Cassidy, a native of Ottawa, compiled a 207-128-45 overall record in 380 games, including winning seasons in all five years and postseason berths in each of his final four seasons at the Bruins’ AHL affiliate in Providence. In 2015-16, Cassidy helped lead the P-Bruins to a 41-22-13 record.
Cassidy’s previous NHL experience includes coaching the Washington Capitals from 2002-04. He led the Capitals to a 39-29-8-6 record and a postseason berth in his first season with the team. Following his exit from Washington, he served as an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks for the 2005-06 season.
As a player, Cassidy recorded 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 36 games during parts of five NHL seasons after being selected by the Blackhawks with the 18th overall pick in the 1983 NHL draft.
Meanwhile, in Vancouver, the Vancouver Canucks officially named Travis Green as their coach on Wednesday.
Green replaced Willie Desjardins, who was fired as coach on April 10 after Vancouver (30-43-9) finished with the second-fewest points in the NHL and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Desjardins went 109-110-27 in three seasons.
“It’s a proud day for me, something I’ve been working at for a long time,” Green told the team’s website. “To get the opportunity here in Vancouver is extra special. I’m confident I’m ready and I’m really excited for the challenge.”
Green served as the coach of the Canucks’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets, for the last three seasons. The 46-year-old British Columbia native guided the Comets to a 120-78-20 record and an appearance in the Calder Cup Final two seasons ago.
Before coaching Utica, Green was the bench boss for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League during the 2012-13 season, going 37-8-2 en route to the Ed Chynoweth Cup and a Memorial Cup final appearance.
“Travis is a talented head coach who’s played a key role in the development of our young players through four seasons with (Utica),” Canucks general manager Jim Benning said. “He has an intense desire to win and build a team identity that is hardworking, responsible on both ends of the ice and competitive. He has an excellent understanding of where we are as an organization and we’re confident in his ability to help build our team and develop a winning culture.
“We’re pleased to welcome Travis and his family and truly excited about the future.”
As a player, Green totaled 193 goals and 262 assists over 970 career games from 1992 to 2007 between the New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks/Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Phoenix Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins.